DESIGN

If you hear the words “70s interior design” and you think either “oh, that’s on trend right now,” or “yeesh,” you’re wrong!

70s interior design is, more often than not, either unfairly maligned or chronically misunderstood. Many people see the 70s as either the decade of wild floral prints and avocado green formica, or the decade of checkerboard print and terrazzo. Although all of those trended at some point in the 70s, there’s much more to the decor of the decade.

In fact, the main reason 70s interior design is so misunderstood is that so many of today’s decor staples rose to popularity in the 70s and simply never went away. We’ve forgotten about so much great 70s interior design because we’ve just kept doing it ever since. What’s left for us to recognize as “the 70s” is actually just the bad and the trendy of the decade.

The 1970s was a decade characterized by bold expressions of individuality. This period witnessed a departure from the clean lines and minimalism of the previous decade, embracing a more eclectic and expressive style. Well known hallmarks of 70s interior design include bold and vibrant patterns like geometric shapes and oversized florals, as well as rich, earthy color palettes.

Less frequently remembered, though, is that the 70s gave birth to eclectic design. It was then that mixing numerous styles to create a collected look became not just accepted but preferred. Eclectic design niches like today’s granny chic/grandmillennial aesthetic all are a result of the eclecticism of the 70s.

Other by-products of the 70s include widespread use of rattan, wicker, and velvet, indoor hanging plants, palm tree motifs in wallpaper and textiles, stone fireplaces, and pendant and globe lights.

The 70s also witnessed a shift towards open floor plans, marking a departure from the compartmentalized layouts of previous decades. In the decades since, it’s become commonplace for homes to have a large, open, central area that combines the family room, breakfast room, and kitchen.

The interiors of the 70s were so much more than the shag carpets they’re remembered for. In fact, the 1970s may just be the single most influential decade for interior design. So much of what the 70s produced just never fell back out of favor. And while the retro look that’s trending currently is a fun blast of nostalgia, you may already have a lot more 70s decor in your home than you realize.